Stone-fluting machine.



No. 060,051. PATENTED 00115, 1907..

' G. N. WILLIAMS, JB.

STONB FLUTING MACHINE..

AIPLIUATION FILED APB. 6, 1908.y

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Hummm immun um nm mm `WITNESS-15s: I lNvENToR ATTORNEYv Nol 868,051.PATEN'I'ED OCT. 15, .1907.

G( N. WILLIAMS, Jn. STONE FLUTING MACHINE.

APPLIUA'IION FILED APB. 6, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEETA 2.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlvI III.. I III IIIIIIIIIII No. 868,051 JPATENTBDOGT.`15, 190'7,v G. N. WILLIAMS, Jn.

STONE FLUTING'MAGHINE. APPLIoATIoN FILED Ame. 1906.

` a snnnTs-snxzm 3.

wlTNE$sEs=- al @l y INVENTOR 1HE Hamel: persas cov. wAsmNcmN. u. c.

GEORGE N. WILLIAMS, JR., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

STONE-FLUTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1907.

Application filed April 6, 1906. vSerial No. 310,375.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE N. WILLIAMS, Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city and State of NewYork, have invented a certain new and useful Stone-Fluting Machine, ofwhich the following is a specification.

Heretofore the fiuting of the surface of blocks of stone for buildingpurposes has been ordinarily performed by hand or by use of the planerwhereby but one flute or partly cylindrical channel in the surface couldbe made at one time.

My invention consists'- in a machine whereby the entire surface of anordinary block of building stone may be fiuted or channeled in Aoneoperation and whereby also, by reason of the easy interchangeability andthe ready adjustment of parts, the machine is adaptable to making avariety of different styles or patternsin fluting. 1 ,fi

My invention consists' also of the several other constructions andcombinations hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which formpart of this specification,Figure 1 is a vertical elevation of my machine. Fig. 1L is an enlargedview of a portion of the tool-carrying frame showing parts of one of thecutting tool spindles taken away to illustrate internal construction.Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the upper lparts of the machine, a portionof the frame work having been broken away for better illustration of theparts. Fig. 3 is an 'enlarged cross section through the line X Y of Fig.1showing the construction and posi-` tion of vertical guideways, blocksof the tool carrying frame and other parts. Fig. 4 is an enlarged-sideview of the bearing support which I employ for the hollow spindle toolcarrier and Fig. 4 is a cross section of the Aand extending rearward(Fig. 2) where it provides proper support for the horizontal shafts 2and 52 hereafter described. Both these shafts 2 and 52 derive theirrotary motion by means of belts and pulleys, (shown in Fig. 2) from themain power shaft which drives the machine. This latter it has not beendeemed necessary to illustrate in the drawings.

Upon the foundation and between the uprights of the verticallframe 1, l,l, l are tracks or ways 7, 7, adapted to receive the platform or truck(Fig. 1) on which the stone 3 to be Ioperated upon is placed. Thesetracks, as shown, run at right angles to theface of the frame 1, 1,1, 1. l

Firmly secured to the face of the frame l, 1, l, l are y the verticalguideways 8, 8, one at each side of the mameans ofy hand lever 22.

chine, adapted to maintain and guide the tool carrying frame at alltimes in its vertical position in the operation of cutting the flutes orchannels in the stone. These guideways form in cross section (Fig. 3)three sides of a square, the outer edges being thickened and beveledexternally as shown to receive the blocks or carriers 9, 9, which form,with bars 34, 34, hereafter described, said tool carrying frame. Blocks9, 9, are adapted to slide up and down the guideways 8, 8. They are ofsuflicient material and strength when firmly connected by bars 34, 34,to give substantial rigidity to said tool carrying frame.

10, 10 are the feed screws. As shown in Fig. 3, the feed screws areplaced within the guideways 8, 8, and they are securely journaled at thetop of saidguideways in plate 11 (Fig. l) and are provided above andbelow said plate 11 with collars 12 and 13 securely fastened at theupper end of said feed screws, whereby vertical motion of said screws ineither direction is prevented and the said screws are permitted only therotary motion requisite to raise or lower the tool-carrying frame.Firnily secured to the blocks or carriers 9, 9 by means of plate 14 arethe female nuts 15, 15, one adapted to each feed screw 10, l0. At thetop of each feed screw are beveled gears 16, I6, which mesh with beveled gears 17, 17 on feeding shaft 18 as shown. Feeding shaft 18 is journaled at the upper part of frame 1, 1, 1, l, in bearings 19, 19(Figs. l and 2). Obviously rotary motion of the feed screws willsimultaneously raise or lower the blocks or carriers 9, 9.

Feeding shaft 18 is provided with a worm gear 20 adapted to conveyrotary motion to shaft 18- when clutch 21, connected therewith, isbrought into play by Said clutch 21 is of the ordianry construction.Hand lever 22 is suitably adapted to the frame of the machine in mannerto b'e readily moved by the operator in throwing the clutch 21 in or outof operation. The worm 24 on vertical shaft 23 (Figs. 1 and 2) is inmesh with the worm gear 2O and conveys the rotary motion of shaft 23 tofeeding shaft 18 when the clutch 21 is brought into play. Shaft 23receives its rotary motion by means of belt and pulleys from verticalshaft 6 (Figs. 1 and 2) hereafter described l Power from shaft 6 is thusconveyed through worm, worm-gear, gears, feeding shaft and feed screwsto blocks or carriers 9, 9, which form part of the tool-carrying frame,for the purpose of feeding the tools of that frame to their work. Anyother means than worm and worm-gear, such as pawl and ratchet, sprocketandl ate them are in common use on various kinds of stone machinery,especially in some forms of gang saws. They will therefore need nofurther description here. Feeding shaft 18 is also provided with beveledgear 50 in mesh with beveled gear 5l on horizontal shaft 52, journaled,on the upper part of the frame (Figs. l and 2). Shaft 52, as beforestated, receives its rotary motion from the power shaft of the machine.When shaft 52 is rapidly rotated-by means of beveled gears 5l and 50,feeding shaft 18 and connecting parts, the feed screws are rapidlyrotated in either direction for easy adjustment of the tools of the toolcarrying frame to the work. Shaft 52 is provided with one fast and twoloose pulleys and is connected with the main driving shaft with directand cross belts as shown in Fig. 2, so that motion in either directionmay be given to said shaft 52, thus either raising or lowering the toolcarrying frame as desired.

An important feature of my invention consists in form of construction ofwhat l have heretofore termed the tool carrying frame. Blocks 9, 9,above described are provided with sockets or recesses to receive andyfirmly hold horizontal bars 34, 34 which are firmly fastened at eachend to the blocks 9, 9 in such sockets by the set screws 35, 35. lprefer that these bars 34, 34 shall bersteel shafts, circular in crosssection'. They are of sufficient strength when secured to blocks 9, 9 asdescribed, to constitute the tool carrying frame-a substantially rigidsupport for the cutting tools in order that these latter maybe firmlyheld in their vertical movements while rapidly rotating. Other forms ofbars 34, 34 may be employed, as square or oblong in cross section but, 1prefer that form circular in crosssection on account of theinterchangeability of parts hereafter referred to whereby my machine maybe readily adapted to the production of flutes of different styles orpatterns. l'n Fig. 6 I show a view in cross section of the fiutedsurface of stone. l As will hereafter appear, these flutes or channelsin the surface of the stone may be both wider anddeeper and the plainsurface between each of the different flutes wider or narrower inaccordance with the style or pattern to beproduced. To horizontal bars34 34 of the tool-carrying frame are secured the bearing supports forthe tool-carrying spindles with their tools and the mechanism foroperating the same as hereafter described.

Vertical shaft 6 is employed to transmit rotary motion from horizontalshaft 2 (Figs. l and 2) to the moving tool-carrying frame and thus tothe cutting tools. It also provides motion for vertical shaft 23 asheretofore stated. Shaft 6 is supported in bearings 30, 3l (Fig. 1) atthe face of the frame l, l, l, 1 and is provided at its upper end with acollar 32 firmly secured to shaft 6, whereby any downward verticalmotion of said shaft is prevented. Bevel gear 4 on shaft 2, in

mesh with bevel gear 5 on shaft 6, transmits the motion. The lowerportion of said shaft 6 is grooved at opposite sides as shown in Fig. 3and provided with a sleeve or hollow shaft 37, internally feathered orribbed, thus adapting it to the grooves of shaft G. Sleeve 37 providedwith collars 38, 38 to prevent vertical movement relatively to thetool-carrying frame is journaled in bearings 39, 39 which are removablysecured to bars 34, 34 at one side of the frame as shown in Fig. l..Bearings 39, 39 are removably attached to bars 34, 34

in order that these bars may be shifted to right or left or whollyremoved and replaced by others as desired. Sleeve 37 is also providedbetween the collars 3S, 33 with active pulley 40. Rotary motion of shaft2 is thus transmitted by means of gears, vertical gl'ooved shaft andfeathered sleeve to the active pulley 40. while at the same time saidactive pulley 4l) with its sleeve is permitted to move up or downvertically along grooved shaft as the tool carrying frame moves up ordown vertically along guideways 8, 3, propelled either by the slowmotion of the feed screws given by the worm gear feed, or by the rapidmotion above described of said screws, given by the gears 5t) and 5l. upor down for adjustment purposes. Any other means may be employed toconvey rotary motion to active pulley 4() on the tool carrying frame,the means above described heilig one in common use. At the other side ofthe tool carrying frame also secured to bars 34, 34 is similarlyjournaled idle pulley 4l. in bearings 42, 42. The shaft on which idlepulley 4l rotates is provided with collars 3S, 3S, adapted to maintainsaid pulley in proper position at all times. I provide that bearings 42,42 (as in the case of bearings 39, 39 of the active pulley) shall beremovably secured to bars 34, 34, in order that their position may bechanged. lhns idle pulley 4l may be moved nearer to or further from theactive pulley 40 for purpose of adapting the length of the belt to thevarying number of cutting' tools carried by the tool carrying frame. lnFig. l are shown seven of these tools in position in their bearings,each adapted to cut a finte or channel in the stone. Obviously thenumber of these cutting tools may be increased or decreased,-theirdistance apart may be varied, so also the size of these cutting toolsmay be changed in accordance with the style or pattern to be produced.In Fig. 3 is illustrated the position of the belt operating upon thetool spindles between active pulley 40 and idle pulley 4l, The cuttingtools are each centered upon substantially the same line and the beltpasses alternately in front of and behind the spindles. rl`hus while theposition of active pulley Al() is necessarily fixed relatively to theguideways S, S and groovedshaft G, the position of the idle pulley AIlis conveniently made removable along bars 34, 34 of the tool-carryingframe to accommodate the varying conditions of the work.

The construction of the bearings for the cutting tools and theiradaptation to the tool-carrying frame is as follows: As will be seen(Figs. 4 and 4"), the support for bearings 43, 43 is formed in a singlepiece or casting which is adapted by tightening of the bolts 44, 44 togrip tightly both the upper and lower horizontal bars 34, 34 of the toolcarrying frame. lhus by loosening bolts 44, 44, thc position of eachtool bearing relatively to active pulley 40, or to the other toolbearings may be adjusted or varied or upon loosening bars 34, 34,entirely from the blocks 9, 9, the tool bearing supports may be removedand replaced by others of wider or narrower construction as desired.'.lhe number of tool bearing supports on thetool-carrying frame may thusbe varied and their distance apart regulated. So also the tightening ofbolts 44, 44 has the effect to give additional strength and rigidity tothe tool-carrying frame itself by reason of the particular constructionwhich l have adopted, viz., that of having the support ss,oi

for the double bearing for each tool spindle made in one piece as shownin. Fig. 4. Even though these tool bearing supports be removable at willand interchangeable for others, when in place tightly fastened-theyserve to brace the tool-carrying frame and add to its rigidity.

In the tool bearing supports 43, 43 is journaled the hollowtool-carrying spindle 46. In Fig. l the bearing and the pulley of onetool-carrying spindle is broken away-also part of the spindle itself, inorder to illustrate internal construction. As there shown, spindle 4Gconsists of a hollow shaft to the upper end of which collar 45, 45 isfirmly secured to prevent vertical descent. It is provided with flangesas illustrated, to maintain it in position relatively to its upper andlower bearings 43, 43. It is threaded at 47 to receive the hollowcutting tool 48 and it is provided between the two bearings 43,. 43 withan elongated pulley 49 to receive driving belt 54. Belt 54 passes aroundactive pulley 40 and idle pulley 41 and alternately in front of and4behind the pulleys of the tool spindles as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3,thus giving to each tool the necessary rotary motion. l

The cutting tool 48 consists in a hollow annular drill or a hollow orsolid pointed drill and is firmly held by spindle 46 by means of screwthread and cap nut 47 as shown the shoulder at the upper part of saidcap nut 47 l(Fig. lu.) acting as a collar and bearing against the lowerside of bearing support 43fto prevent upward vertical movement of thecutting tool. At 55 (Fig. l) I have shown the water pipe to which isattached exible hose 56. By means of its several taps or faucetsindicated in Fig. l, a proper quantity of water is supplied to theinside ofthe hollow tool carrying spindle and thus to the inside of thetool. I also provide supply of water from above to the outside of thecutting tool as it drscends into the stone. This I havenot illustratedin the` drawings. The water may be fed to the top of the stone by anyproper means. In my machine I employ rectangular teeth inserted inrectangular notches 57 at the lower edge of each cutting tool (Fig. la),said teeth being riveted in place in notches 57 57 in the ordinarymanner. Said teeth are not indicated in the drawings but they are of theordinary construction and have diamonds or other hard substance embeddedtherein for the purpose of cutting the stone. In case where the toolemployed is ahollow or solid pointed drill, I usea tool having diamondsinserted therein for rapid cutting purposes.' Any other form of teeth,however, may be employed adapted to cut the stone, under the action ofthe rotary motion provided for the tools in my machine.

To guard as far as possible against vibration in the rotating cuttingtool during the operation, I provide a guide plate 58 which is securelybolted as shown in Fig. 1 to the lower part of the fixed frame I, 1, 1,l. This guide plate 58 is perforated at 59 as shown in Fig. 5for passageof the cutting tool. Each perforation is provided with three adjustablefingers 60, G0, GO as indicated, made of wood or other material and heldin place by screws 61, 6l, (il. When the tool is in place, each fingeris brought in close contact with the too'l on opposite sides andfastened by the screws. They thus serve to guide and steady the tool asit descends into the stone. -This guide plate, with itsadjustablefingers, I

regard as important because it tends, when properly gripping therotating tools, to prevent vibration and thus reduce the possibility offracture of the stone.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The dressed surface of stoneis placed in position on its platform on the car or truck, immediatelyunder the cutting tools. The operator, with the hand, shifts the belt tothe active pulley on shaft 52, thus rapidly rotatingA the feed screwsthrough gears and feeding shaft above described, and the tool carryingframe is lowered until the edges of the cutting tools `are in positionto work upon the upperl surface of the stone to be cut. Shaft 52 isvthen thrown out of operation by shifting the belt to the idle pulleythereon. Shaft 2 is now brought into operation by the operator in likemanner, shifting the belt applicable to that shaft vand the rapid rotarymotion of the tools begins through the intervention of feathered shaft 6as described.4 The slow feed is then thrown into operation by theoperator by means of lever 22, acting upon the clutch 21 and the toolcarrying frame with its rotating tools is caused to slowly descend andcut the desired flutes or channels from the surface of the stone, thewater supplied to the surface. of the stone and by hose 56 within thehollow tool spindles as described, having been turned on at thecommencement of the operation and continued throughout. the close of theoperation, that is, when the cutting tools have descended throughthestone to the lower edge thereof, the slow feed is thrown off by lever22, releasing the clutch 21. Belt on shaft 2 is shifted, therebystopping the rotary motion of the tools and the rapid movements of shaft52 are again brought into play to raise the tool carrying frame with itstools out of and' away from the work. By my invention, I am enabled toproduce considerable surface of stone fluted with much more rapidity bythan any of the earlier methods known to me.a By the interchangeabilityof parts I am also enabled to produce a variety of styles orpatterns offluting upon the same machine. u

I claim:

1; In a stone fluting machine the combination of a numconveying rotarymotion to thesaid cutting tools and a. guide plate secured in fixedposition relative to the upper surface of the stone to be fluted, saidguide plate having perforations for passage of the cutting tools, saidperfora tions provided with adjustable fingers for guiding and steadyingthe cutting tools when in operation.

2. In a stone fiuting machine, the combination with a stationary frameprovided with vertical guideways,'of a horizontal tool-carrying frameadapted to move along said guideways and provided with two or morerotating cut ting` tools, means for feeding said tool-carrying frametoward the Work, means for conveying rotary motion from the stationaryframe to the cutting toolsof the tool-carrying frame, and, a stationaryguide plate having perforations for passage of the cutting tools, saidperforations provided with adjustable fingers for guiding and steadyingthe cutting tools when in operation.

ln a stone fluting machine, the combination with a stationary frameprovided with vertical guideways and a horizontal tool-carrying frameadapted to move'along said guideways and provided withtwo or morerotating cutting tools, of a screw mechanism positively feeding saidtoolcarrying frame and tools toward the work, means operating said screwmechanism, means for conveying rotary motion from the stationary frameto the cutting tools of the tool carrying frame, and, means supportedupon the stationary frame for steadying the tools of the tool-carryingframe when in operation.

4. In-a stone tluting machine, the combination with a stationary frameprovided with two vertical guideways and a' horizontal tool-carryingframe adapted to move along said guideways, said tool-carrying framebeing composed of two blocks or carriers one adapted to each of saidvertical guideways and two horizontal bars eacll removably attached tosaid blocks or carriers, o1 two or more rotating-cutting tools carriedin bearings by said tool carrying frame, two or more bearing supportsfor the bearings of each of said cutting tools, said bearing snp portsbeing horizontally nl'ovable along thc horizontal bars ot' saidteol-carrying frame, means for feeding said toolcarrying frame towardthe work and means for conveying rotary motion from the stational-yframe to the cutting tools ot thel tool-carrying frame.

5. In a stone lluting machine, the combination with a stationary trameprovided with two vertical guideways and a horizontal tool carryingframe adapted to move among said guideways, said tool-carrying framebeing composed ot two blocks or carriers one adapted to each of saidvertical guideways and two horizontal bars secured to said blocks orcarriers, of two or more rotating cutting tools carried in bearings bysaid tool-carrying frame, bearing supports for the bearings of eacll ofsaid cutting tools, said bearing supports beingr horizontally movablealong the horizontal bars of said tool carrying frame, means for feedingsaid tool-carrying frame toward the work, means for conveying rotarymotion i'rom the stationary 'frame to the cutting tools of thetoolcarrying l'ralne, and a stationary guide plate having perforationsfor the passage of the cutting tools, said perforations provided withadjustable iingers for guiding alld steadying the cutting tools when inoperation.

6. In a stone tluting machine, the combination with a stationary frameprovided with two vertical guideways, and a horizontal tool carryingrframe adapted to move along said guideways, said tool-carrying framebeing conlposed ol' two blocks or carriers one adapted to eacll of saidvertical guideways and two horizontal bars secured to said blocks orcarriers, of two or more rotating cutting tools Carried in bearings bysaid tool-carrying frame, bearing supports for the bearings of each ofsaid rotating cutting tools each of said bearing supports beingconstructed ill 011e piece horizontally movable along and secured toboth of the horizontal bal's of said tool-carrying frame, means forfeeding said tool-carrying. frame toward the work and means forconveying rotary motion from the stationary frame to the cutting toolsof the tool-carrying frame.

7, In a stone tluting machine, the combination with a stationary frameprovided with two vertical guideways. and a horizontal tool-carryingframe adapted to move along said guideways, said toolcarrying framebeing composed ot' two blocks or carriers one adapted to eacll of saidvertical guideways and two horizontal bars secured to said blocks orcarriers, ol. two or more rotating cutting tools carried ill bearings bysaid tool-carrying traine, bezlrillg supports for the bearings of eachof said rotating cutting tools, cacll of said hearing supports beingconstructed ill one piece horizontally movable along alld secured toboth ot the horizontal hars of said tool-carrying frame, means for fecdisaid tool-carrying trame toward the work, means for conveying rotarymotion from the l tionaly trame to the cutting tools o1" thetoolcarrylngl frame and a stationary guide plate llavillg perforationstor passage oi' thc cuttillg tools, said perforatiolls provided withadjustable lingers for guiding and stcudyilu.;l the cutting tools whileill operation.

S. In a stone iluting machine, the combination with a stationary frameprovided with vertical guideways, und a horizontal tool carryingl traineadapted to lnove along said guideways, said tool-carrying frame heiligcomposed of two blocks or carriers one adapted to eucll ol' saidvertical guideways and two horizontal bars each attached to both of saidblocks or carriers, of all active pulley supported ill bearings on saidtool-carrying frame, all idle pulley sup pol'ted ill bearings adjustablyattached to said toolafarrying frame, two or more rotating cutting toolssupported in bearings by said tool-carrying frame, pulleys tor each ofsaid cutting tools, heal-i supports for the bearings ot eacll of saidcutting tools eacll oi said bearing supports being horizontallyadjustable along said tool carrying frame, means for conveying rotarymotion from the statiollary trame to the active pulley, the idle pulleyand the tools of the tool carrying frame.

9. In a stone tiuting machine, the combination with :l stationary frameprovided with vertical guidewuys, alld a horizontal tool carrying frameadapted to move alongl said guideways, said tool carryingl frame beingcomposed of two blocks or carriers one adapted to each ot' said verticalguideways and two horizontal bars cacll attached to both ol said blocksor carriers, of all active pulley snpported ill bearings oll said toolcarrying frame, an idle pulley supported ill bearings udjustablyattached to said tool carrying frame, two or lllore rotating cuttingtools supported ill bearings by said tool carrying frame, pulleys foreach oi' said cutting tools, bearing supports for the bearings of eachof said cutting tools cach of said bearing supports being horizontallyadjustable along said tool carrying frame, means for feeding said toolcarryingr trame toward the work, means for conveying rotary lno tiollfrom the stationary i'rallle to the active pulley, the idle pulley andthe tools of the tool carrying frame, and means supported upon thestationary frame for guiding and steadying the tools oi; the toolcarrying frame while ill operation.

GEORGE N. WILLIAMS, dll.

Witnesses A. IVI. Bowln, A. C. BAcKUs.

